A boat has sunk close to the coastline off Sant Antoni, prompting authorities to raise a yellow flag at es Pouet beach as a precaution after a fuel slick was detected in the sea.

The incident occurred opposite sa Punta des Molí, where the vessel had been anchored in an unauthorised area just a few metres from the shore.

Yellow Flag Raised at Es Pouet

The Sant Antoni Town Hall changed the beach flag from green to yellow on Monday, September 21, after being informed of the incident.

The measure was taken as a precaution because the fuel slick was moving towards the es Pouet area due to the wind.

The vessel itself is located outside the designated bathing zone and outside the municipal authority's direct area of responsibility.

Anti-Pollution Barriers Installed

Anti-pollution barriers have been placed around the sunken vessel to help contain the slick and reduce the possibility of further fuel spreading across the surrounding waters.

The response is focused on monitoring the situation and limiting any potential impact on the marine environment.

The Town Hall has been coordinating with Ports IB, Salvamento Marítimo and the Maritime Captaincy while the situation is assessed.

Salvage Operation Planned

According to the information provided to the Town Hall, work to refloat and remove the vessel was scheduled to begin on the morning of Tuesday, September 22.

At the latest confirmed stage of the incident, the vessel had not yet been reported as removed.

The timing and progress of the salvage operation may depend on marine and weather conditions as well as the equipment required to recover the boat safely.

Beach Users Advised to Follow Instructions

The Town Hall has advised beach users to follow the instructions given by the lifeguard and surveillance services and to respect the beach signage.

The yellow flag is a preventive measure linked to the possible impact of the fuel slick and does not mean that the entire beach has been closed.

Incident Near sa Punta des Molí

The sunken vessel was located opposite sa Punta des Molí, close to the coastline between the Punta des Molí area and es Pouet.

Because the boat was outside the bathing area, the initial incident did not occur within the marked swimming zone. The concern for beach users relates to the movement of the fuel slick towards the nearby shoreline.

Authorities Monitoring the Situation

Ports IB, Salvamento Marítimo, Maritime Captaincy and Sant Antoni Town Hall are maintaining coordination while the incident is dealt with.

The immediate priorities are to control the fuel slick, monitor its movement and remove the sunken vessel.

Further information is expected once the planned salvage operation gets underway.

What Happened at Es Pouet

The incident has resulted in a temporary change to beach safety measures at es Pouet, with the yellow flag remaining in place as a precaution.

For now, the authorities' advice is to follow the instructions of the beach surveillance teams and avoid disregarding the warning signage while the response operation continues.